Blind passenger’s invention lands at Glasgow Airport

An ingenious concept benefitting the visually impaired has landed at Glasgow Airport thanks to the brilliant minds of two local passengers.

Tom Forsyth (65) and neighbour Laura Maclean (35) created the device, better known as the Ramble Tag, which is used to improve the experience of guided walking. The idea came about in an attempt to eliminate the potential awkwardness of needing direct bodily contact with a stranger while seeking guidance.

Paul Scott, the airport’s terminal compliance manager, said: “The decision to trial the Ramble Tag came about following a chance meeting between one of my colleagues and Tom Forsyth, who had stepped off a flight.

The device first came to the airport’s attention when Tom was receiving support from the assistance crew at on site, who he got chatting to regarding his ideas for the new device. Now in 2018, the friends’ product has been officially rolled out by the Scottish airport who saw a direct need to bring the Ramble Tag to other Glasgow Airport passengers with a visual impairment.

“Tom explained the concept behind the Ramble Tag, which we thought was an excellent idea, and we quickly took the decision to trial it. It’s a very simple yet unique product that could make a real difference for people with visual impairments.”
Tom said: “I’m dead chuffed. Proud as well.

“Our product is designed in Glasgow and being used in our airport – it’s great.”
Tom, who worked as a graphic designer before losing his sight due to diabetes complications, added: “Where it might be very useful for airport staff is for cultural differences.

“It makes it so easy for someone to hold the handle without any bodily contact.”

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